Substantial Gainful Activity

To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in
substantial gainful activity (SGA). A person who is earning more than a certain
monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily considered
to be engaging in SGA. The amount of monthly earnings considered as SGA depends
on the nature of a person's disability. The Social Security Act specifies a
higher SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals; Federal regulations specify
a lower SGA amount for non-blind individuals. Both SGA amounts generally change
with changes in the national average wage index.

Amounts for 2017
The monthly SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2017 is
$1950. For non-blind individuals, the monthly
SGA amount for 2017 is $1170.
SGA for the blind does not apply to Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits, while SGA for the non-blind disabled applies to Social Security
and SSI benefits. See historical series of SGA amounts below.

Trial work period
After a person becomes eligible for disability benefits, the person may attempt
to return to the work force. As an incentive, we provide a
trial work period in which a beneficiary may have
earnings and still collect benefits.

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